Adjusting mechanism for bag-tube cutters



Aprilzs, 1925. 1,535,899

G. T. TRUNDLE. JR., ET AL ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR BAG TUBE CUTTERS Filed Jan. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-S eet 1 zwi/fjfejs TT/Mud -251/ @nml rn/(Mutig April V28; 1.925. 1,535,899"

G. T TRUNDLEIq JR., ET AL ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR BAG TUBE CUTTERS Filed Un. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 2s, i925.

l UNITED/STATES A 1,535,899 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T mnNDLE, JR., or CLEVELAND, ann Boeren e. CARLSON, or CLEVELAND C HEIGHTS, omo.

Application filed January 9, 1922.` Serial No. 527,956.

To all isi/tom t muy concern: l

`Be it lznown that we,`GnonGn T. TRUNDLn, Jr.,` and BmrroN Gr. CARLSON, citizens of the UnitedA States, residing at 3153 Sycamore Road, Cleveland, Ohio, andlO. Belman Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, respectively., in the county ofCuyahoga, have 'invented a certain new and useful Improvement in lAdjusting Mechanism for Bag- Tube Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference `being had to the accompanying drawings.

`This invention is concerned with paper bag forming mechanisms, andis particularly ldirected to `improvements in tube forming machines.

In the art of bag making, the bags are .first formed into tubular blanks by a tube forming'machinewhich is usually arranged to receive a paper roll at one end from which the web passes to a preliminary slicing or shearing mechanism. `'llrhe web then passes over mandrels or tube forming guides which cause thesideedges of the 5 sheet to be folded inwardly in .an overlapping relation. A strip of adhesive material is usually impressed on one of the overlapping surfaces ofthe sheet bef-ore the sheetis completely folded into a tubular.'

:so forni; The tube thus formed then progresses through feedroflls which serve the double purpose of moving the web from the roll-"through the various mechanisms, as well. as vto press the tubey into` a flattened condition. .A second shearing mechanism is usually driven in synchronism with the feed rolls which effects the iinal shearing.

of the tubes `into uniform .bag lengths or blanks as `the tube is advanced from the feed rolls.` ,The shearing of the tube into baglengths is thus effected in two operations, namely; the central portion `of the web is sheared or `punched before the sheet has'progressed through the tube forming lmechanism and the final shearing is completed afterfthei tube has `passed through the feed rolls; it ises'sential therefore, that both shearing mechanisms bedriven in synchronism so that the sheared edges effected by the second vshearing operation will register withthe sheared edges effected 'by the lirst` shearing operation. j

In the tube forming machines now in use, driving means are provided connecting the shearing mechanisms andthe feed .roll whereby tubes of uniform lengthare produced at a high rate of speed. lf it is desired to change the length of the tubesbeing formed on the machine the gearing ratio between the feed rolls andboth shearing mechanisms is changed, whereby the feed rolls will move the tube or sheet through the shearing mechanisms at a greater or a lesser speed depending upon whether the length of tubesisto bev longer or shorter. Considerable difficulty, however, has been encountered in readjusting the shearing mechanisms, when the machine is being changed to obtain properly timed cutting action on the moving web.

The generalvobject of the present` invention therefore, is the provision of novel adjusting means associated with the shearing mechanisms, whereby the `machine may` be 'quickly and accurately adjusted to produce `various lengths of bag tubes.`

A more specific object of this `invention is the provision of means for driving the twosets of'shearing mechanisms in cutting synchr-onism which includes a drive shaftparted intermediateof the shearing mechanisms, and joined by adjustable coupling means, `whereby the ends of the shaft may be angularly `displaced to cause a corresponding vangular displacement between the shearing blades of the ,respective` mechanisms, thus changing the timing (andthe position of the cutson the web) offone of the shearing `mechanisn'is relative to the other.

A further object is the provision of indieating `means associated with said shaft coupling means whereby the angular adjustment being made may be read directly on a dial associated with the coupling means. V j

Other. objects will become apparent from the description hereinafter set forthwhich refers to the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in theclaims. f i

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a` tube forming machine; Fig. is a diagrammatic representation of the .shearing mechanisms and with the tube shown trave-ling., therebetween alongv aA horizontal plane; Fig.. 3 is Va similar representation showingthe mechanisms( adjusted to form bag tubes of greater length than the tubes being formed by the setting illust-rated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the paper web with one end thereof formed into la tube; the shearing mechanism and feed rolls being omitted; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a coupling and indicating means; Fig. G is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of one of the coupling members.

A tube forming machine such as I have illustrated in Fig. 1 is usually comprised of a frame 10 supporting a tube forming bed 11. The frame usually has means for supporting a large roll of paper (not shown) from which the paper web P is drawn. Suitable braking mechanism is usually provided for maintaining a uniform tension in the paper web.

The web is drawn over a roll 14 which 'may be comprised of rubber or other resilient material. A shearing knife 15 is usually disposed above the top surface of the web and may be mounted on a rotatable shaft member 16. The shearing member 17 is adjusted to strike the top surface of the web; the cir-cle described by this shearing member being such that the cutting edge thereof will penetra-te the web and effect a shearing or slitting, such as is illustrated at A :in Fig. 4. The slit thus effected will be present in only one side of the tube which is subsequently formed.

As the web progresses through ythe machine it is drawn past forming bars 1S and 19 rigid with the bed 11 with the result 'that an inward folding of the side edges of the web is effected such as is illustrated at B in Fig. 4. As the web progresses further it is drawn through final folding members 2O which effect the fmal tube formation of the web. One 'of the folded edges of the web is usually coated with an adhesive wherebyv the 'tube is permanently defined as it passes thro-ugh feed rolls 22 and 23.

As the completed tube is advanced from the feed rolls to the discharge end of the machine, it passes through a final shearing mechanism comprised of a knife member 24 disposed abore the tube and a ceac-ting platen member 25 disposed below the tube. These shearing members are mounted on rotatable shafts 26 and 27 respectively and are actuated by gears 28 and '29, which are of equal diameter. The gear member 29 is driven by a gear 30 mounted on the shaft member 31 on which` a driving pulley (not shown) may also be mounted. The feed rolls may be driven through change gears actuated from the same sour-.ce as the gears 28 and 29. Hence the shaft 31 may also carry archange gear 32 which is arranged to vdrive van intermediate gear member 33 adjustably mounted on .-a bracket lmember 34.

This gear member drives another intermediate gear member 35 which a-ctuates the feed roll gears 3G and 37.

Connecting mechanism is provided to drive the shearing member 24 .and the shear ing member 15 in timed relation which includes a longitudinal shaft 42. A bevel gear is rigidly mounted on the shaft 31 which meshes with a similar gear 41 mounted on cludes a longitudinal shaft 42. A bevel gear 43 is mounted on the upper end of this shaft which drives a bevel gear 44 mounted on the end of the shaft 16. lhen adjusting the machine to form a longer or shorter tube it has been the practice heretofore to replace the gear 32 with .a different sized gear and then change the angular relation of the shearing members by resetting the gears 2S and 29 relative to the gear 30. The shearing members 15, 28 and 29 are driven at such a speed that the linear velocity thereof is considerably greater than the highest velocity which may be imparted to the paper web when the machine is adjusted to make tubes of maximum length; the web is thus prevented from gathering or catching up to the cutting edges of the shearing members.

In the diagrammatic illustration shown in Fig. 2, it will 'be noted that the distance between the point where the first shearing member 15 acts upon the web to the point where the shearing members 24 and y25 effect the 'linal shearing thereof, is divided into equal spaces which correspond to the length of the tube being formed. rlhese equal spaces, however, would be of greater length if the feed rolls 22 and 23 were actuated at a greater rate of speed, other conditions remaining the same.

In Fig. 3 the diagram illustrates the condition which would exist if the rate of speed of the feed rolls were increased. To increase the feed roll speed it would be necessary, however, lto replace the gear 32 with -a larger gear, thus requiring a resetting of the intermediate gear members 33 and 3e.

I have devised a very efficient and simple means which may be :associated with the driving means whereby the necessary adjustment between the two sets of shearing mechanisms may be quickly and v.accurately effected. To this end I have divided the shaftmember 42 into two members, 42*1 :and 42. @ne of the members (42a) may have a clutch member 59 secured to the -end thereof which is arranged to positively grip the .adjacent end of the other shaft member 421. This clutch member may be secured to the shaft member 42a by any suitable means such as pins 54.

rIhe clutch member may be formed somewhat. in the manner of a chuck collet having tapered portion-s 51 which are adapted to be contracted upon 'the `sha-ft member 42b by a member 52 having an internal coniform surfacewhich is adapted to engage the `outer surface of the spring portions 5l.

`50, whereby turning of the member' 52 will either cause a gripping of the spring portionsl upon the shaft member 42b or cause a releasing thereof, as desired.

For the purpose of aligning the acent ends ofthe shaft members 42L and 42", I

prefer to form a reduced portion 56 upon the end of one of the shaft members which is adaptedto fit a suitable boreformed in the end of the other shaft member. It is evident thatby releasing the coupling means one shearing mechanism may be adjusted to any angular position relative to .the other by turning either end of the shaft 42 with ia wrench while the other end is stationary. y

It will be noted from the diagram shown in Fig. 3 that the position of the shear members 24 and 25 has been advanced from that illustrated in Fig. 2. The position yillustrated in .heavy lines, is the position to which these members have been adjusted in order to obtain a proper registration of the shearing edges of the members 24 `and 254 with the sheared slits effected by themeinbei* lllwhen the tube is being moved at a greater rate of speed.

`For comparativepurposes the original positions vof the shear members are; illustrated in dotand `dash lines`.` j It is evident `that the shear members 24 and 25, if acting in the position as illustrated by the dot and dash lines, would not register withl the sheared slits effected by the member 15. v

In order toproperly adjust the members 24and 25 to the `position shown; by the full lines iii-Fig. 3, it has been necessary heretofore to remove the gear 30 and rotate the gears 28 and 29 to the desired position, after which the gear 30 was replaced. This method involved considerable annoyance and frequently required several `trial settings before an accurate adjustment'was obtained between the first and second shearing mechanisms.

To further facilitate the accurate` setting of the two mechanisms, I have provided a dial member 58 which may be rigidly secured to the shaft member 42". A pointer member 59 may be secured to the end of one of the spring portions 51 ofthe spring 50. Hence the pointer member is in rigid relation with` the shaft member 42a and the exact amount of angular adjustment betweenthe shearing members 24 and 25 may be read or indicated on a graduated face GO of the dial 58, asy illustrated in F 6.

If desired, the dial face may be graduated and marked with the exact positions to which the mechanism shouldY be adjusted vin order to form various lengths of bags;

hence the size of the bag may be marked adjacent the corresponding angular mark on the dial.

A paper tube machine equipped with niy invention may be .readily adjustedtf.) forni i various lengths of bags by changing the speed of the feed rolls, after which the tive sets of shearing mechanisms may be properly adjusted to have the cutting elements thereof act upon the paper web along coordinated lines transversely of the web. A correct adjustment may be immediately obtainedwhen changing the paperv tube inachine to cut a different length of bag to that which it had been previously cutting by maintaining the gears 28 and 29 in a definite posit-ion as well as the bevel gears 43 and 44 during the time the gear 82 is being changed and the intermediate gears and 36 are being reset. The proper angular adjustment of the cuttingelements may then be obtained by turning either one of the shaft members 42a or 42h; the amount of adjustment being read by observing the position of the pointer 59 in relation to the dial 58. If the dial is provided with graduations which correspond to the various bag tube lengths, the machine can produce the proper adjustment of the cutting elements whichl may be immediately obtained by angularly displacing one of thel shaft members until the pointer is not `at the proper dial mark. i

It is evident thatl the mechanism as illustrated comprises, in effect, a `couple represented by a preliminary shearing mechanism and a couple represented by a second or final shearing mechanism with means for feeding material therethrough 'disposed ining machine,it is obvious that the adjusting means may be comprised of any suitable elements which may release the driving means to permit adjustment of one of ,the couples, while the other couple remains stationary.

Having thus described our invention, we claim i l. In a machine for forming paper bag tubes, the combination of mechanism for shearing slits intermediate the edges of the paper web being formed into the tube, feed rolls for drawing the webv throughsaid slitting mechanism, a second mechanism .for completing the shearing of the tubes into uniform lengths or blanks, means for driving said shearing and said slitting mechanisms in synchronism whereby the second named shearing mechanism will completely .shear the tube, said shearing being effected in registration with the slits previously formed in the paper web by the first named shearing mechanism, and adjustable means .associated with said synchronizing :means for angularly displacing one shearing mechanism relative to .the other when the .speed of said feed rolls is changed.

Q. In a tube forming machine of the character described, the combination of :a shearing mechanism adapted to effect a partial shearing of a paper web into uniform lengths, a pair of feed rolls adapted to .act upon the web .and draw it through said shearing mechanism., a second shearing mechanism adapted to sever the -completed tube along lines transversely of the tube, and in registration with said previously formed slits, and means for driving :said -first :named .and said second named shearing mechanisms in synchronism including ,a driving shaft connecting the respective .shearing mechanisms, said driving shaft comjn'ising two aligned shaft members joined by adjustabie .coupling means whereby the .first named mechanism may be .adjusted -angularly relative to said second named mechanism.

3. Ina tube forming machine lof the character described, the combination of mechanism for effecting a preliminary slitting of a paper web, a pair of feed rolls for drawing the web therethrough, a second shearing mechanism adapted to completely sever the tube into blanks of uniform lengths, means for driving -sai-d mechanisms in synchronism, means for changing the speed of said feed rolls whereby the web may be moved through the machine at a greater or lesser speed while the speeds of said shearing mechanisms remain constant, and adjustable means associated with said synchronizing means whereby the periods of the shearing action of the respective mechanis-ms may be changed.

i.. In a paper tube forming machine having a preiiminary shearing mechanism and a tina-l shearing mechanism, the combination of means for driving said shearing mechanisms in synchrenism including connecting mechanism comprising aligned shaft members having the adjacent ends thereof joined by adjustable coupling means whereby said shearing mechanisms may be adjusted to act upon the tube at different periods.

5. In a paper tube forming mechanism having a preliminary shearing mechanism and a final shearing mechanism, the combination of means for driving -said shearing mechanisms including a connecting shaft parted intermediate said mechanisms and joined by adjustable coupling means whereby said shearing mechanisms may be adjusted to act upon the tube at different periods.

6. In a paper tube forming machine, mechanism for effecting -a partial shearing of a paper web pas-sing therethrough, a second mechanism adapted to act upon the web along lines coordinating with said preliminary part-ial shearing, a Acommon driving means for positively actuating both sets of mechanisms, said driving mea-ns including adjustable coupling means whereby the time of acting upon the paper web of one set of shearing mechanism may be adjusted relative to the other.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

BURTGN G. CARLSON. GEORGE T. TRUNDLE, Jn. 

